Neiman’s finds fit with omnichannel technology

Omnichannel access to the best merchandise in the world is the objective behind a new digital initiative at Neiman Marcus that has the retail embedding high resolution screen in shoe department tables.



The upscale department store operator worked with touchscreen technology provider T1Visions to create the interactive retail tables which are now live at Neiman’s Austin, Chicago and Los Angeles area stores.



“Whether it’s a product in another store location or from our online inventory, our goal is to provide customers with omnichannel access to the best merchandise in the world,” said Wanda Gierhart, CMO, Neiman Marcus Group. “With our touch tables, we deliver another layer of exceptional customer service.”



The retail tables measures approximately 70 inches long, 34 inches tall and 26 inches wide and feature a 32 inch Ultra HD 4K touchscreen, covered by a single continuous pane of glass that is customized in color per Neiman Marcus’ specifications. The touchscreens are powered by T1Visions’ proprietary retail software application, OneShop, that allows customers to browse and filter Neiman Marcus’ inventory, which includes items both in-store and out-of-store. Customers can add items to their ‘My Favorites for Wishlist’, which can be emailed with live product links to reference for immediate purchase or for later review. The software also supports a recommendation engine based on search results.



For store associates, the table provides them with up-to-the-minute inventory beyond what is available in-store, including what is “coming soon.” The touch tables can also be used as a tool to share with shoppers the latest trends.



The tables are currently in their first phase of OneShop, with additional updates scheduled to release early this year. Now that the tables have been deployed to the stores, T1Visions and Neiman Marcus will continue to test and refine the software, which can be updated remotely. The long-term vision for the retail table is to conduct transactions, ultimately functioning as an additional point of sale in the store that blends in-store shopping with the online experience.



“The (Neiman Marcus InnovationLab) worked hand in hand with T1Visions to build a solution that marries form and function. The result is easy to use, leverages state of the art technology, and provides clients and associates with unbridled access to product.” said Scott Emmons, Neiman Marcus Enterprise Architect and iLab Manager.



“One of the things that led Neiman Marcus to work with us was our ability to create a very sophisticated product that was not obtrusive, but a more elegant display of technology. We were able to integrate software, hardware, and furniture to create a seamless, complete look,” notes Marco Ventura, Vice President of Business Development at T1Visions.